Editor’s word: It is a recurring publish, recurrently up to date with new info. Citi is a TPG promoting companion.
Many Citi cardholders redeem their Citi ThankYou Rewards factors for journey or present playing cards. However when you’ve got a premium Citi ThankYou card, you might be able to get higher worth out of your factors. Particularly, you possibly can maximize your Citi ThankYou factors by transferring factors to this system’s airline and lodge companions.
At the moment, Citi ThankYou Rewards has the next airline switch companions:
Moreover, it has three lodge switch companions:
On this information, we’ll look deeper at every of those Citi ThankYou Rewards switch companions. However first, let’s take into account find out how to earn Citi ThankYou factors.
How you can earn Citi ThankYou factors
However not all ThankYou factors have the identical worth. To switch your Citi ThankYou factors to most companions described on this information, you have to maintain a premium Citi ThankYou card such because the Citi Status® Card (not accessible to purposes) or Citi Premier. In the event you solely have the Citi Rewards+ Card, you’ll earn extra restricted ThankYou factors that switch to JetBlue, Selection and Wyndham at poor ratios, and to not the opposite companions in any respect. Alternatively, you possibly can redeem factors for money again or journey by means of Citi.
When you’ve got the Citi Double Money Card or the Citi Customized Money Card, you earn money again as “fundamental” ThankYou factors. When redeemed for present playing cards, these are value a flat 1 cent every and can’t be transferred to most ThankYou journey companions.
Nevertheless, in the event you additionally maintain the Citi Status or Citi Premier, you possibly can mix your fundamental ThankYou factors with these out of your Citi Status or Citi Premier account. Then, you possibly can switch to any of the Citi ThankYou journey companions.
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The knowledge for the Citi Status card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
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Citi Premier Card
Signal-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Factors after you spend $4,000 in purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. Based mostly on TPG’s valuations, this bonus is value $1,080.
Rewards price: For a restricted time, earn 10 factors per greenback on accommodations and automotive leases booked on the Citi journey portal by means of June 30, 2024. Earn 3 ThankYou factors per greenback on air journey, accommodations, eating places, supermarkets and fuel stations; 1 level per greenback on different purchases.
Annual charge: $95.
Card advantages:
Official software hyperlink: Citi Premier Card
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Citi Rewards+ Card
Signal-up bonus: Earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $1,500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Rewards price: For a restricted time, earn 5 factors per greenback on accommodations, automotive leases and points of interest (excluding air journey) booked on the Citi journey portal by means of June 30, 2024. Earn 2 ThankYou factors per greenback at supermarkets and fuel stations (on the primary $6,000 per 12 months, then 1 level per greenback); 1 level per greenback on every part else. Additionally, Citi routinely rounds as much as the closest 10 factors on each buy.
Annual charge: None.
Card advantages: You’ll get 10% factors again for the primary 100,000 ThankYou Factors you redeem per calendar 12 months, together with factors earned on different playing cards in the event you’ve linked your Citi ThankYou accounts.
Official software hyperlink: Citi Rewards+ Card
Associated: Who ought to get the Citi Rewards+ Card?
Citi Double Money Card
Signal-up bonus: None.
Rewards price: 2% money again on purchases (1% if you purchase and 1% if you pay).
Annual charge: None.
Card advantages: No standout advantages.
Official software hyperlink: Citi Double Money Card
Associated: What credit score rating do it’s worthwhile to get the Citi Double Money Card?
Citi Customized Money Card
Signal-up bonus: Earn $200 money again after you spend $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. This bonus provide will likely be fulfilled as 20,000 factors, which could be redeemed for $200 money again.
Rewards price: Every billing cycle (roughly each month or so), you’ll earn 5% money again (5 ThankYou factors per greenback) on the primary $500 of purchases in your high spending class from a listing that features issues like eating, groceries and fuel stations; then 1% again (1 ThankYou level per greenback) on different purchases.
Annual charge: None.
Card advantages: No standout advantages.
Official software hyperlink: Citi Customized Money Card
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Citi ThankYou switch companion overview
When you’ve got a premium Citi ThankYou card, such because the Citi Status Card or Citi Premier Card, you possibly can switch factors to any ThankYou journey companion at a 1:1 ratio, besides Selection Privileges, the place you get a 1:2 price.
Another Citi ThankYou playing cards earn fundamental ThankYou factors which are solely transferable to a few packages at decrease charges:
- Selection Privileges: 1:1.5
- JetBlue TrueBlue: 5:4
- Wyndham Rewards: 1:0.8
To switch Citi ThankYou factors to journey companions, go to thankyou.com, register to your account and choose the ThankYou account you wish to use. Then, click on “Journey” on the highest navigation bar and choose “Factors switch.” Every switch should be at the very least 1,000 ThankYou factors however not more than 500,000. ThankYou factors can solely be transferred in increments of 1,000.
Switch instances and ratios
Some journey companions acknowledge transfers from Citi ThankYou Rewards faster than others. Citi says transfers can take as much as 14 days to course of. TPG ran some experiments to find out how lengthy Citi ThankYou factors take to switch.
So, you might be questioning which Citi journey companions are Most worthy. Our month-to-month TPG valuations provide you with an thought in regards to the relative worth of some currencies. However TPG doesn’t present valuations for each foreign money. In any case, a lot of the worth is determined by the place and the way you propose to journey. Beneath are some concepts to get you began.
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Finest Citi ThankYou switch companions
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is a well-liked foreign money for reserving flights on Star Alliance carriers with its combined cabin ticketing and low taxes and costs. In contrast to some frequent flyer packages, Avianca LifeMiles doesn’t move alongside provider surcharges.
Some hidden gems within the Avianca LifeMiles program embrace:
You may dig into LifeMiles companion redemption choices on the LifeMiles web site.
In the event you’re brief on LifeMiles after transferring from Citi, Avianca LifeMiles can also be a switch companion of American Specific Membership Rewards, Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, Avianca steadily provides the chance to buy LifeMiles at a reduced price.
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Singapore Airways KrisFlyer
Singapore Airways KrisFlyer is normally your finest wager in the event you’re seeking to ebook long-haul premium-cabin flights on Singapore Airways. If there’s saver award house, you possibly can ebook the nonstop flight from John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) for 111,500 miles one-way in enterprise class.
As well as, KrisFlyer normally reductions routes every month by means of its Spontaneous Escapes program.
In the event you’re nonetheless brief on KrisFlyer miles after transferring from Citi ThankYou, you may as well switch factors from American Specific Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy.
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Turkish Airways Miles & Smiles
There are a number of candy spots within the Turkish Airways Miles & Smiles program. Traditionally, solely hardcore factors and miles collectors would undergo the trouble of discovering and reserving awards on this program. However the on-line search and reserving course of has improved, which makes this system extra accessible.
You’ll get probably the most worth if you use your miles to ebook Turkish- or Star Alliance-operated flights. Miles & Smiles costs award flights on region-based award charts and one-way awards are bookable for half the value of a round-trip award. Nevertheless, gasoline surcharges are excessive on some Miles & Smiles redemptions.
One other glorious method to redeem Turkish miles is on U.S. home flights. You’ll pay 7,500 miles one-way in economic system and 12,500 in enterprise class irrespective of the place you fly within the U.S., together with Hawaii. This makes Turkish one of the best Citi switch choice for many home flights and by far the most suitable choice for flights to Hawaii — although you will want to seek out saver-level awards as a way to make the most of this candy spot.
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership
Even after Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership all of a sudden devalued its Delta award chart, it could possibly nonetheless an excellent program for reserving sure Delta-operated flights to Europe. Particularly, you possibly can ebook flights on nonstop Delta-operated routes utilizing Virgin Atlantic miles that keep away from the U.Okay. (and people hefty gasoline surcharges):
- From 30,000 miles for economic system class from the U.S. to Europe (every approach).
- From 50,000 miles for enterprise class from the U.S. to Europe (every approach).
Alternatively, in the event you’re seeking to fly between the U.S. and Japan, Virgin Atlantic has a powerful award chart for ANA-operated flights. Particularly, for round-trip flights between the U.S. and Japan, you’ll pay 45,000-65,000 miles for economic system, 70,000-95,000 miles for enterprise and 145,000-170,000 miles for top notch. You may see the total award chart right here.
In the event you’re nonetheless brief on Flying Membership miles after transferring from Citi, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership can also be a switch companion of American Specific Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Final Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, Flying Membership generally provides the chance to buy miles at a reduced price.
Associated: 3 nice methods to redeem Virgin Atlantic factors now that Delta awards are devalued
Common Citi ThankYou switch companions
Though not fairly as robust because the 4 switch companions we simply mentioned, there’s nonetheless little bit of worth within the following seven Citi ThankYou switch companions.
Aeromexico Membership Premier
Nonetheless, you might get good worth from Aeromexico in the event you use your factors in the best conditions.
Associated: What it’s worthwhile to learn about Aeromexico’s dynamic award pricing
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Flying Blue is a well-liked program that some would possibly argue is without doubt one of the finest Citi switch companions.
Some redemptions are actually interesting, although. For instance, enterprise class between the U.S. and Europe begins at simply 55,000 Flying Blue miles one-way. However Flying Blue will add gasoline surcharges that may be hefty on some routes.
One vibrant spot is that Flying Blue provides month-to-month Promo Rewards on its web site, which supply reductions of as much as 50% on award tickets.
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ALL Accor Reside Limitless
Accor has 54 manufacturers, together with widespread names like Sotifel, Fairmont, Raffles and Movenpick. Its redemptions are easy — 2,000 factors are value 40 euros (round $43, primarily based on present alternate charges). Which means every Accor level is value round 2.15 cents.
By transferring Citi factors to Accor at a 2:1 ratio, you will get simply over 1 cent per level, so Accor typically is not one of the best switch companion.
Since 2,000 Accor factors are value 40 euros, you possibly can decide to partially cut back the out-of-pocket price of an upcoming Accor keep, particularly in the event you’re touring throughout peak journey instances. On this sense, you are not worrying about restricted availability for traditional rooms, which could be problematic with different lodge loyalty packages.
When you’ve got a restricted variety of Citi factors, Accor might be an choice. In the event you switch 4,000 factors to a different Citi companion, that is hardly ever sufficient for a redemption. Nevertheless, changing 4,000 Citi factors to 2,000 ALL factors will get you 40 euros off your keep.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles makes use of distance-based award charts for flights by itself metallic and Oneworld companion awards. Lengthy-haul flights, corresponding to these between the U.S. and Hong Kong, could be costly. Particularly, you possibly can ebook one-way “ultra-long” Cathay Pacific flights of seven,501 miles or longer for 125,000 Asia Miles in top notch, 85,000 miles in enterprise, 60,000 miles in premium economic system and 42,000 miles in economic system.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles passes on gasoline surcharges from different carriers however not prices gasoline surcharges on lots of its personal tickets. The Cathay Pacific Asia Miles reserving engine could be irritating and troublesome to decipher. However in the event you can handle it, there could be worth in this system.
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Selection Privileges
The majority of Selection properties fall on the price range facet of the spectrum, however there are some hidden gems overseas. For instance, you will get a superb deal when reserving accommodations in Japan and Northern Europe. This one-night keep on the Funken Lodge in Longyearbyen, Norway, prices simply 12,000 Selection factors per night time. The identical keep retails for $357.69.
However that’s not one of the best half. Citi factors switch to Selection at a 1:2 ratio, which means this redemption solely requires 6,000 ThankYou factors. You may get almost 6 cents per level in worth from that individual redemption, which is superb for Citi ThankYou Rewards.
In fact, not all redemptions will yield that a lot worth. Right here within the States, most Selection accommodations fall into manufacturers like Econolodge, Clarion and Sleep Inn. These sometimes present much less worth as a result of low money charges, so that you’ll wish to maintain off on Citi transfers until you’re heading overseas.
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Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards is probably most helpful for reserving award tickets for Emirates enterprise class or top notch. However its award costs are excessive. For instance, a one-way flight from JFK to Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB) in top notch sometimes prices 138,000 miles and $838 in taxes and costs.
A extra viable choice is to take a look at one of many provider’s fifth freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe:
- Each day service from New York-JFK to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) on the Airbus A380.
- Each day service from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to Athens Worldwide Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) on the Boeing 777-300ER.
These is usually a nice choice, even after this 12 months’s devaluation. One-way award charges begin at 87,000 miles plus ~$100 in taxes and costs, but when you’ll find round-trip, saver-level awards, your complete value drops to simply 108,000 miles.
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Etihad Visitor
Etihad Visitor was once a improbable program for maximizing companion redemptions. Sadly, Etihad slashed all its candy spots and elevated award charges by over 300% on some routes. There are nonetheless a number of routes the place you possibly can maximize Etihad Visitor miles. For instance, flights from Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport (AUH) to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Worldwide Airport (FCO) begin at 60,003 miles.
It is value noting that American AAdvantage now provides decrease award charges for Etihad flights in comparison with Etihad Visitor. Nevertheless, American AAdvantage would not have 1:1 switch partnerships outdoors of Bilt Rewards.
In the event you’re nonetheless brief on Etihad Visitor miles after transferring from Citi ThankYou, you may as well switch factors from American Specific Membership Rewards, Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy. Etihad additionally periodically provides the chance to buy Etihad Visitor miles at a reduced price.
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Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas typically is not probably the most profitable loyalty program with its excessive gasoline surcharges and a lackluster award chart.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer program makes use of a number of distance-based award charts. So that you’ll want to pick out the proper award chart primarily based on the airways you propose to fly. Particularly, you might discover some worth from brief Qantas-operated flights which are costly when utilizing money.
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Qatar Airways Privilege Membership
Qatar’s loyalty program would not provide a ton of worth, however because the provider’s change to Avios as its foreign money, there are some causes to contemplate it as a switch companion.
For starters, it is the one Avios-accruing program to companion with Citi ThankYou Rewards. The others — British Airways Govt Membership, Iberia Plus and Aer Lingus AerClub — companion with different transferrable currencies however not Citi.
And since you possibly can mix your Avios throughout all 4 of those packages, you possibly can switch ThankYou factors to Qatar after which make the most of candy spots in different packages — like 34,000 Avios for off-peak, business-class flights from New York to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) on Iberia.
Listed below are a number of different redemptions that is likely to be worthwhile:
- American Airways and Iberia: U.S. to Europe from 35,000 and 70,000 Avios in economic system and enterprise class every approach.
- Qatar Airways: Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport (DOH) to Europe from 64,500 Avios in top notch or from 70,000 Avios from the U.S. to Doha on the Qsuite.
- Royal Air Maroc: U.S. to Morocco from 70,000 Avios in enterprise class.
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Wyndham Rewards
Citi ThankYou factors switch to Wyndham at a 1:1 ratio. Wyndham has a easy award chart: Award nights price 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 factors per night time. Not all properties are deal, however you possibly can generally discover bargains in costly cities, at high-end properties or over holidays and different peak journey instances.
You can too use Wyndham Rewards factors to ebook Vacasa trip leases. These leases price 15,000 factors per night time per bed room, so that you’ll get one of the best deal on studio and one-bedroom leases. All Vacasa properties are bookable with factors, however you have to name to seek out award house and ebook.
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Worst Citi ThankYou switch companions
Even among the least-valuable Citi ThankYou switch companions have vibrant spots. Right here’s the lowdown on these packages, together with a number of areas to search for worth.
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands typically gained’t be your program of alternative. In any case, it’s typically overwhelmed by different packages and is quite obscure. However there are a number of notable instances during which you would possibly wish to use Infinity MileageLands.
One specific space the place I’d look to acquire worth is intra-region round-trips. You’re allowed as much as two stopovers, as much as six segments and one open jaw on round-trip Star Alliance awards — and a few areas are very broad. For instance, the “North Asia” area consists of “Guam, Japan, Micronesia, Palau, Russian Far East, South Korea, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Saipan.” So you possibly can piece collectively a pleasant island hopper for simply 30,000 miles round-trip in economic system or 55,000 miles in enterprise class. Likewise, the “South West Pacific” and “South America” areas additionally look interesting.
You may see the award chart for Star Alliance awards right here and the award chart for EVA Air awards right here.
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JetBlue TrueBlue
Redeeming JetBlue TrueBlue factors for the provider’s flights is easy: The extra a flight prices in money, the extra it is going to require in factors. Based on TPG’s valuations, you possibly can anticipate to get roughly 1.3 cents of worth for each TrueBlue level you redeem. However some flights might yield barely higher or worse worth. Particularly, redeeming for Mint award tickets usually solely supplies about 1 cent per level.
An alternative choice is to redeem JetBlue factors for journey on Hawaiian Airways. This award chart has some good offers, together with one-way intra-Hawaii flights for six,000 factors in economic system and 12,000 factors in enterprise, although these steadily have low money charges. You can too ebook long-haul worldwide Hawaiian Airways flights from Hawaii for 30,000 factors in economic system and 70,000 factors in enterprise.
Associated: How you can earn factors within the JetBlue TrueBlue program
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus
Regardless of some interesting intra-region award pricing, you gained’t discover a lot worth in Thai Royal Orchid Plus. You will discover the Thai award chart for originating in Bangkok right here, the Thai award chart for connecting in Bangkok right here and the Star Alliance companion award chart right here.
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Backside line
As you possibly can see, there are many choices for utilizing your Citi ThankYou factors to ebook a visit. It is smart to work on incomes Citi ThankYou factors even in the event you don’t know the way you wish to spend them but. As soon as you realize the place you wish to go, you possibly can decide which switch companions present one of the best choices and worth to your journey.
Extra reporting by Kyle Olsen.
